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In Brief

Daire Rooney has joined Allium Restaurant + Bar as chef, the eatery has announced.

She is most well known in the Berkshires for serving as executive chef of the former Brix Wine Bar in Pittsfield, where she managed the kitchen for four years.

Born and raised in New England, Rooney began her restaurant career at the age of 12, starting out as a busser and dishwasher. In 2000, Daire became the personal chef and head of household to actress Meryl Streep and family.

In 2006, Rooney planned and organized the opening of De La Vergne Restaurant as executive chef. In 2010, she worked as a catering chef with Mezze Catering + Events, before moving to Georgia that fall to become lead cook at the Augusta National Golf Club, the home of the Masters Tournament, where she started the Greenhouse Program.

On Friday, March 1, Rooney will be joining a group of Berkshire chefs at the James Beard House to present "The Berkshire Cure-All," a dinner highlighting foods raised and produced in the Berkshire region in conjunction with The Red Lion Inn.

Pittsfield: Workshop on workforce training

The Berkshire County Regional Employment Board will be holding a workshop on Workforce Training Fund and Express Programs on Friday, Feb. 1 at the 1Berkshire building, 66 Allen St.

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Information on how companies can apply for up to $250,000 to develop a training program will be discussed. Michael Corcoran is the facilitator.

Heidi Weber has joined Berkshire Community College as public relations manager, the college has announced.

She will be responsible for developing and distributing promotional and public relations materials included news releases, human interest stories, and feature articles on BCC as well as its students and faculty.

Weber has more than 15 years of experience in public relations and marketing. She previously served as special project manager for Time Warner Cable in Schenectady, N.Y., and as a media relations specialist at the University of Albany.

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